It's a small world after all.

The 19th rolled around (1 day before my spectacular champagne birthday) and I waited with bated breath to see what magic there was in store. The man told me far in advance that this was the day he would present his gift to me. I had a few guesses, a few eyes-squinted fists-clenched hopes, and when my eyes did so eagerly open I discovered the most magical gift of all.

DISNEY ON ICE baby!

Two beautiful tickets wrapped ever so delicately in a little red ribbon. I could not believe it! I'd never been to an ice show before! I remember being in grade ?2? and coming to school only to be bombarded with little spinning light-up doodads, delicate colourful programs, the most elaborate tales of princes and princesses finding true love at last (and on ice for that matter, as if love isn't tricky enough) and I remember the wonder of it all. I was so envious! I had no idea what it might be like to see an ice show!

And for my birthday the wonderful man granted me that one childhood wish. What a stud.

I had such a spectacular time, too. We had amazing seats, and could see absolutely everything from them. From the sparkling fairy tale castle at the one end, to the illuminated patterned ice beneath their twinkling skates, all the way up to the falling snow and bubbles from the darkened man-made skies. He bought me a snow cone, that I ate from the top of Stitch's opened head, coloured with rainbow stripes. Little girls with their parents slipped past us in the aisles, adorned with multicoloured princess gowns, a vision in tulle, proudly sporting their golden mickey crowns, their black round ears peaking out through their carefully curled hair. Suddenly, I felt underdressed.

The zamboni drives out onto the ice, and stops in the centre. The driver gets off, confused, as if something is wrong with the ice-mending machine. He kicks the machine's ribs a few times, and circles it. I'm on to him now. He scratches his head in an exaggerated manner, and I'm certain he's a part of the act. The next thing I know my favourite childhood characters are out on the ice attempting to repair the "broken" machine! Goofy is not much help at all.


And the rest is history. I watched the most elaborate choreography as every princess ever to hit the screen got her own moment to shine in the arms of her prince charming, I watched as Aladdin was taken aback when not one but twenty genies emerged from the smokey castle to the tune of "Never Had a Friend Like Me" to prove the genie's ultimate power, Nemo found his father, Belle saved the Beast, Mulan brought honour to her family, Woody discovered true friendship with a spaceman, even Pinocchio learned the value of ones conscience, all narrated by the fabulous duo of Mickey and Minnie. There was even a sequence celebrating the wonder of the world's cultures to the tune of "It's a small world after all" as the instruments and style of the song changed with every new culture. Ack!


It was just all so much. I was nearly driven to tears when Simba and Nala danced ever so gracefully across the ice, ending with a dramatic pose as Simba caught Nala just before hitting the ice, by her arm and back leg, illuminated by a single spotlight in the middle of the ice. Imagine "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" playing with a rhythmic African beat in the background, syncing with your very heartbeat. Breathtaking.


At the very end such joy and wonder bubbled up from inside me when the characters all marched out to wave us goodbye to "Circle of Life." My life will never be the same!